Boynton Beach Mom Arrested for DUI With Child in Car
On Saturday night (March 5), a trooper spotted a woman on the I-95 southbound near State Road 84 in Broward County; she was pulled over in the emergency lane in a red Kia Sorento. Concerned for the motorist, the trooper stopped to see if the woman needed help.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, when the trooper approached the woman's vehicle, he noticed her two-year-old son in the backseat. Soon after starting a conversation with the woman, he suspected that she was intoxicated.
The driver of the Kia Sorento was identified as C. Loughman, 43, of Boynton Beach.
The trooper asked her to perform field sobriety tests, which were caught on the patrol car's dash cam. The footage shows Loughman taking the tests while barefoot, and she doesn't appear to take them seriously. She even stops and waves to the camera at one point.
The FHB said that Loughman failed the field sobriety tests. The video shows her mood change from being lighthearted to combative as soon as the officer tries to put handcuffs on her. The video shows Loughman repeatedly shouting "no" and asking why the officers are doing this to her.
After three officers tried to gain control of Loughman, they finally managed to get handcuffs on her. Later on she said that she had two drinks with dinner that evening and she admitted to taking prescription medications, three of which were Xanax.
The FHP said that Loughman's young son was not harmed, and the police released him to his father.
The allegedly impaired mother was not so lucky. Now she is up against several charges, including DUI and child abuse without great bodily harm. Sometime following her DUI arrest, Loughman was released from custody.
West Palm DUI Defense Attorney
Loughman's story illustrates how quickly one's life can be turned upside-down after a DUI arrest. If you are facing DUI charges, please know that a conviction can impact several aspects of your life, including your family and your career – just two reasons to fight your charges.
If you were arrested for DUI, contact my West Palm Beach criminal defense firm to work with a former prosecutor with over 25 years of experience. Call now for your free case evaluation!